As we come to the end of NaNoWriMo when many of us will have been turning our hands to writing rather than reading for a change, I could not be more excited by today’s blog post. Thanks to Siobhan McDermott I have two fabulous vouchers to give away for the BBC Maestro writing courses worth £80 each. As I’ve been lucky enough to trial one of the courses I can assure you that they are simply wonderful.

I chose to follow Lee Child’s Writing Popular Fiction which gave me access to a set of course notes that included advice from Lee Child, summarising his video classes, with exercises to complete and bullet take-aways that get right to the heart of being a writer.

However, what was so wonderful about Writing Popular Fiction was the videos. In this particular course there are over 30 video clips with Lee Child exploring all manner of aspects about writing, but in an intimate manner that feels as if he’s speaking directly to the learner in their own sitting room. This makes the course feel personal and tailored to the individual. The course is a fascinating insight into the writing process and world, even if you think you don’t want to write, but for those who do, Lee Child is interesting, inspirational and educational. He’s also a fantastic communicator who draws you in and gives you confidence.

If you’re not familiar with BBC Maestro writing courses, simply click on the italicised links to find out more about them and then enter further down this blog post on Linda’s Book Bag for your chance to win a voucher for one of the courses to either keep for yourself or maybe give as a Christmas gift:

Writing Children’s Picture Books with Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson has written some of the world’s best-loved children’s books, including modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, which together have sold over 25 million copies worldwide and have been translated into over one hundred languages. Her other books include Room on the Broom, Stick Man and Zog, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, The Hospital Dog, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures, illustrated by Lydia Monks. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle series, illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs – and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was the UK Children’s Laureate 2011–13 and has been honoured with a CBE for Services to Literature. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.

Julia Donaldson – Writing Children’s Picture Books

Writing Books for Children with David Walliams

David Walliams – comedian, actor and author – continues to take the children’s literary world by storm. His tenth novel, Bad Dad, was an immediate number one, following the triumph of The Midnight Gang, the biggest-selling children’s book of 2016. World’s Worst Children 2, which published in early 2017, spent four weeks at industry number one and eight weeks at the top of the children’s chart. They have achieved unprecedented critical acclaim – and Ratburger, Demon Dentist and Awful Auntie have all won the National Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year.

David’s books have now exceeded 100 non-consecutive weeks in the children’s number-one spot, and have been translated into 53 languages, selling more than 35 million copies worldwide.

David Walliams – Writing Books for Children

Writing for Young Adults with Malorie Blackman

Malorie Blackman has written over seventy books for children and young adults, including the Noughts & Crosses series, Thief and a science-fiction thriller, Chasing the Stars. Many of her books have also been adapted for stage and television, including a BAFTA-award-winning BBC production of Pig-Heart Boy and a Pilot Theatre stage adaptation by Sabrina Mahfouz of Noughts & Crosses. There is also a major BBC production of Noughts & Crosses, with Roc Nation (Jay-Z’s entertainment company) curating the soundtrack as executive music producer. In 2005 Malorie was honoured with the Eleanor Farjeon Award in recognition of her distinguished contribution to the world of children’s books. In 2008 she received an OBE for her services to children’s literature, and between 2013 and 2015 she was the Children’s Laureate. Most recently Malorie wrote for the Doctor Who series on BBC One, and the fifth novel in her Noughts & Crosses series, Crossfire, was published by Penguin Random House Children’s in summer 2019.

Malorie Blackman – Writing for Young Adults

Storytelling with Alan Moore

Alan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs “workings” (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.

Alan Moore – Storytelling

Writing Popular Fiction with Lee Child

Lee Child is one of the world’s leading thriller writers. He was born in Coventry, raised in Birmingham, and now lives in New York. It is said one of his novels featuring his hero Jack Reacher is sold somewhere in the world every nine seconds. His books consistently achieve the number-one slot on bestseller lists around the world and have sold over one hundred million copies. Two blockbusting Jack Reacher movies have been made so far. He is the recipient of many awards, most recently Author of the Year at the 2019 British Book Awards. He was appointed CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Lee Child – Writing Popular Fiction

Writing Drama for Television with Jed Mercurio

Jed Mercurio is one of Britain’s most successful television writers. He is the award-winning creator of Bodyguard, Trigger Point and Line of Duty. His first novel, Bodies, published by Jonathan Cape, was chosen by the Guardian as one of the five best debuts of 2002. He adapted the novel for the BBC, winning the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama Series of 2005. Jed grew up in England and currently splits his work between London and Los Angeles.

Jed Mercurio – Writing Drama for Television

For more about BBC Maestro, visit the website, follow them on Twitter @bbcmaestro and find them on Instagram, Youtube and Facebook.

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Giveaway – Two BBC Maestro Writing Courses

Click here for your chance to win one of two vouchers worth £80 giving access to your choice of course from the following:

Julia Donaldson – Writing Children’s Picture Books
David Walliams – Writing Books for Children
Malorie Blackman – Writing for Young Adults
Alan Moore – Storytelling
Lee Child – Writing Popular Fiction
Jed Mercurio – Writing Drama for Television

Giveaway closes at UK midnight on Monday 5th December 2022. Open to those in the following countries: United Kingdom, Isle of Mann, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Australia, South Africa, Canada, India, Brazil, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong, UAE and USA as these are the places that can access the BBC Maestro Writing Course.